InfoSAWIT, MENDALO – Universitas Jambi (UNJA) has once again been selected as an implementing institution for Indonesia's 2026 Plantation Human Resources Development Education Program, supported by the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP). Through its Diploma III (D3) Chemical Analysis Study Program under the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), the university will offer 30 full scholarships for prospective students in the upcoming academic year.
According to Announcement Number PENG-3/BPDP/2026 dated May 11, 2026, UNJA is among 42 higher education institutions nationwide appointed to deliver the Plantation Human Resources Development Program. The designation marks the second consecutive time the university's D3 Chemical Analysis Program has earned the trust to administer the initiative.
Dhian Eka Wijaya, Coordinator of the D3 Chemical Analysis Program at FST UNJA, described the appointment as recognition of the program's educational quality and institutional readiness.
"This designation reflects national recognition of our educational governance and the preparedness of our academic resources," Dhian said, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from UNJA on Tuesday (June 16, 2026).
He noted that UNJA's prior experience in managing the scholarship scheme contributed significantly to its successful reappointment, with evaluations from previous implementation periods serving as a basis for continuous improvement.
BPDP's selection process involved rigorous assessments covering administrative and academic standards, institutional infrastructure, faculty competence, and the ability to meet the evolving demands of Indonesia's plantation industry.
According to Dhian, the program's alignment with industry needs played a key role in its success. Expertise in chemical analysis remains crucial for quality assurance and product monitoring within the plantation sector, including the palm oil industry.
The curriculum has been developed using an Outcome-Based Education (OBE) approach, encompassing palm oil quality analysis, sampling techniques, laboratory safety procedures, and analytical instrumentation.
The program is supported by well-equipped teaching and instrumental laboratories, while its academic staff specialize in analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, instrumentation, and natural materials research.
UNJA's location in Jambi Province—one of Indonesia's major plantation-producing regions—also provides students with valuable opportunities for field practice and applied research directly linked to the palm oil sector.
A total of 30 students will be admitted through the 2026 BPDP Palm Oil Human Resources Scholarship Program, with official quota details to be determined through a decree issued by BPDP's President Director.
Dhian expressed hope that scholarship recipients would view the program not merely as financial assistance, but as an opportunity to develop into skilled professionals capable of contributing to Indonesia's plantation industry.
"Students receiving the BPDP Palm Oil Human Resources Scholarship are expected to build competence, character, discipline, and expertise as future professionals who will contribute to the advancement of Indonesia's plantation sector," he said.
For UNJA, the continuation of the program further underscores the strategic role of higher education institutions in strengthening Indonesia's plantation workforce through the development of competitive and innovative human capital. (T2)
